Month: July 2023

Ethiopia is a frontrunner, especially in contributing to the mitigation of climate change by planting billions of trees across the country, Former President Mulatu Teshome said.

Explaining Ethiopia’s contribution to the fight against climate at the Astana International Forum held in Kazakhstan on June 8-9 this year, the former president revealed that the country planted 25 billion s lings over the past four years.

“For me the forum (in Kazakhstan) has served as a good opportunity to let the international community know what we are doing in Ethiopia, what potentials we have including natural resources, the good climate we have because planting 25 billion trees in four years, if there was no conductive environment, good soil, water or rain could be very big problem and challenging. So, Ethiopia is very well-placed to be a front runner especially in contributing to the challenges of climate change in this regard,” he elaborated.

According to him, Ethiopia is not only minimizing, but in the long run going to fully engage in developing its non-carbon source of energy.

The impact of climate change to growth and development, global peace and security as well as challenge toward biodiversity were the other agendas discussed at the forum, it was learned.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the former president said the forum was really focused on the present day and critical issues our world is facing.

He added that on one hand there is globalization, but the philosophy behind globalization is being hindered through the trade wars and sanctions and that was one area how to enhance global trade and investment, free trade and free flow of goods and services, he noted.

At a session dedicated to the former president, Mulatu tried to take the agenda of Pan Africanism and what Africa could contribute to the global challenges.

All in all, attempt was made to explain what Pan Africanism means, especially in its present day context. “It is a call for solidarity among Africans to speak with one voice in order to ensure self-interest of our continent Africa.”

OAU was established on the basis of Pan Africanism and that philosophy of Pan Africanism grew to enable Africans to get full independence from colonial powers and also to eradicate a South African political problem which was discriminating against the native people.

After political independence of the African countries, a call came from African people for independent economic aspiration, he elaborated.

That was how OAU gradually evolved into the African Union and at the back of all this development is Pan Africanism, the solidarity among all Africans which enabled Africa to be together, all African countries to share their solidarity with each other and develop together.

Commenting on the recent Summit for a New Global Financing Pact held in Paris, Mulatu said this idea is the interest of all developing countries, especially countries that have contributed to tackle climate change for carbon reduction.

Promises were made, the former president recalled, adding that but they were not kept. The promises were and are not fulfilled by the donor well developed countries which have contributed to pollution, he stated.

The former president underlined that the call is actually not only in the interest of Ethiopia, but in the interest of the developing world which have contributed to reducing to carbon dioxide.

“We are not doing this for the international community. We are doing it for ourselves. But there is a consensus by the international community that if countries are contributing positively like Ethiopia did, in reforestation, in implementing green economy, then there will be somehow a pledge which was made by the international community to be implemented,” he noted.

The former president who took part in the forum by heading Ethiopian business delegation also shared his views on the historical significance and modern relevance of Pan Africanism as a unifying ideology for the African continent.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said it will continue to support the efforts of the Ethiopian government in accelerating industrial development.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, UNIDO Deputy Representative to Ethiopia, Asegid Adane said currently the organization has a very large program portfolio in the area of industrial development and is working closely with the government.

Recalling UNIDO has a program package called Program for Country Partnership (PCP) Ethiopia, he said that we are implementing a project in three priority areas as outlined in relevant government strategies including the Homegrown Economic reform agenda.

These priority areas are leather and leather products sub sector, textile and garment sub sector and agro-processing sector.

“We also have other cross cutting areas like renewable energy development, investment promotion, policy advisory services, which all cut across the three priority areas,” he elaborated.

Currently, he stated that we have a program portfolio in tune with around 60 million USD, which is a technical assistance.

“Using this relatively small amount of resources, we are leveraging close to 2 billion USD in the form of investment and loans to the government, which are associated with the initiatives, which we are supporting.”

To this end, “we continue to support the Government of Ethiopia in its effort for accelerated industrial development,” the deputy representative assured.

Moreover, Asegid stated that UNIDO supported the government of Ethiopia in the development of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIP) in Ethiopia.

IAIPs represent one of the main mechanisms to support Ethiopia’s agricultural production transformation from being fragmented and supply-driven to becoming organized, safe, and demand-led and quality oriented, it was learnt.

The projects are implemented within the broader framework PCP Ethiopia, a partnership business model that mobilizes external partners and resources to increase the impact of UNIDO’s technical cooperation.

Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks operating in Yirgal Town, Sidama region, in Bulbula, Oromia region and in Bure, Amhara region, are among the projects the UNIDO supports, he said.

The deputy country representative added we have reached a stage where we are now working in mobilization of investors.

“Few investors are working already in the parks, but our aim is to make these three parks fully operational in the next few months and years. Investment promotion is now a very important component of these parks. We are working with the government of Ethiopia and other development partners in mobilizing the investments here,” he elaborated.

The Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks are a little bit different from the other parks, because they are meant to develop the food processing value chain locally.

In 100 radius around each of these parts, we have established what we call rural transportation centers (RTC), he said, adding these centers are responsible for collecting raw products from surrounding areas, from the smallholder farmers through their cooperatives and unions.

“I think in doing so, we are hoping that the maximum benefit of value chain development can be obtained. Benefiting the smallholder farmers who are in millions around these products and also all the others involved along the value chain, creating a huge number of employment opportunities for local people.”

He reiterated that UNIDO provides support to priorities as outlined by the government.

There are also additional sectors which the government wants to pursue, he said, adding “we will be working in alignment with that package to increase and expand our support to the government, of course, related to industrial development.”

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency